Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Cactus is Cactus

Helpful signage at the Botanical Garden

Innovations on this sign:

Includes the thing being defined in a pot which is part of the sign. Now, since the sign is sitting in the middle of a Cactus exhibit, in the center of what is essentially a cactus garden, in the middle of a desert which features cactus, I think most people by this point would already have at least a rough idea what they look like, and would come to an explanatory sign looking for further information.

Every sentence explaining what cactus are includes the word, except one, but the last one uses the word twice to make up for that.

In the sentence lacking the word cactus, you learn that succulents store water. Since the previous one explains that almost all cacti are succulents, I felt unfulfilled, in terms of learning about those cacti which are not succulents and so must not be able to store water.

The Cactus House should be made of cactus. It would be very possible to do so using Saguaro ribs.

The Wikipedia article on cacti includes the phrase "Crassulacean acid metabolism" I have no idea what that is, but any sign meant to raise interest in cacti really ought to include a phrase like "Crassulacean acid metabolism" if given the opportunity.

Polypodiaceae also use Crassulacean acid metabolism. What are Polypodiaceae? Plants which are members of the Polypodiaceae family!

Cacti that need a house are not worthy of the Cactus family name, and are cast out. Except, cacti prefer the wilderness, so I don't think you could cast them out there with much effect. Maybe locking them up in the cactus house is punishment enough.

Why did I put up a post about a cactus sign? Because I put up a post about a cactus sign.

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Thriving on two wheels

I commute by bicycle in Phoenix, Arizona, a place suited for riding bicycles of all types, with weather, mountains, roads, canals, and paths to keep me forever spinning. My favorite bike tools are an open mind, anger control, curiosity, compassion, common ground, and the search for knowledge. With coffee.

Dedicated to the Lost and Bold

Arizona 3 foot law ARS §28-735. Overtaking bicycles; civil penalties A. When overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction, a person driving a motor vehicle shall exercise due care by leaving a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three feet until the motor vehicle is safely past the overtaken bicycle. B. If a person violates this section and the violation results in a collision causing: 1. Serious physical injury as defined in section 13-105 to another person, the violater is subject to a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars. 2. Death to another person, the violater is subject to a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars. C. Subsection B of this section does not apply to a bicyclist who is injured in a vehicular traffic lane when a designated bicycle lane or path is present and passable